Millais Nurseries grow one of the widest ranges of rhododendrons and azaleas in the human beings . Established at Crosswater Farm since 1947 , their Rhododendron inheritance goes back to the natural scientist , botanist and authorJohn Guille Millais , who identify and draw many rhododendrons for the first time . At the approaching RHS Chelsea Flower Show , the nursery will lionise a hundred of rhododendron at Exbury Gardens .
Millais Nurseries expose at Chelsea 2016
Rhododendrons are a raw material in British horticulture , peculiarly in areas where they can be successfully get on just acidic soil , like Sussex , New Forest , Devon and the West Coast of Scotland , allot to David Millais . " Smaller growing plants such as evergreen azalea and dwarf rhododendrons are also popular alternative for growing in containers . "
Cutting and graftingAt Millais Nurseries , most rhododendron are grown from cutting . " Those variety which are too difficult to take root are grafted , and we corrupt a modest number of small micropropagated plants too " , David explains . The greenhouse has an all-embracing thinning curriculum , making role ofEvaposensor controlsunder polyethylene tent .
The nursery rise about 1,000 different diverseness of rhododendron , but they propagate some of these on a 2 - 3 year Hz to make production easy . " It means that we may have a small industrial plant , a gravid plant , or the customer may have to wait a year for the next batch . Most of our plants are 3 years sure-enough when sell , but we also grow a range of specimen size up to 1.2 cadence . All are now turn in containers . "
Cuttings in multiplication
100 years of rhododendronsThis year , Millais Nurseries will be at Chelsea again - they only come along at the show about every three years , when they have a sound narration to tell , to apologise the costs of having an display there .
" This year we are lionise the Centenary of Exbury Gardens , the tumid rhododendron garden in the Earth " , David shares . The garden was jump by Lionel de Rothschild in the New Forest in 1919 . He patronize legion industrial plant hunt expeditions to the Himalayas such as Frank Kingdon - Ward and George Forest , and developed a huge breeding program for new kind .
" It ’s quite a story , and one that the BBC have picked up on , so we will get the publicity we call for . "
Brexit : " I trust that sense prevails"Millais mature rhododendron to befit all tastes , and in particular collector who ca n’t get these varieties elsewhere . As a result , they principally provide appendage of the populace , either from their plant center , or online .
" Europe describe for between 5 - 10 % of our sale , and we are keen to grow our sales into Europe without tariffs " , David says , when asked about the loom Brexit . " Now that more and more masses are realising that Brexit is not what was promised 3 year ago , and that we were tell a pack of prevarication , I hope that sense prevails and we can remain in EC . "
For more info : Millais NurseriesCrosswater FarmCrosswater LaneChurtFarnhamSurrey GU10 2JNT : 01252 792698[email protected]www.rhododendrons.co.uk
© FloralDaily.com/Jan Jacob Mekes
